Nova Scotia Government Sued Over Bluenose II

This recent article in the Toronto Star may be of interest to Bluenose fans:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/...se-ii-design

the province owns the boat so they can do whatever they want with it...this law suit is clearly frivolous.

It isn't frivolous. It isn't about ownership of the boat. It's about the design and the name. Ownership of a vessel does not bestow ownership of the design or the name if these are held in copyright by the designer. Buying a Grand Banks motor yacht does not entitle the owner to copy the design and sell them as such. In this case it seems copyright extends 50 years from the death of the designer and is still valid, and unless sold previously still belongs to the family. Reading the article it is clear that no dollar amount has been mentioned or claimed, and the family are happy for the judge to decide the matter. It could be $5. It could be a lot more. What seems to be at issue here is the use of the name "Bluenose II" on a more than 90% rebuild that might be considered to be a new vessel as so little of the original remains. In all likelihood the only winners in this will be the lawyers.

Terry